Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Scheme)
1. This Scheme complies with Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/99 of 17th May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and in particular Articles 4 to 7 which deal with investment in agricultural holdings.
2. This Scheme extends to England only.
3. It makes provision for the making of grants in respect of agricultural businesses which are at least partly situated in nitrate vulnerable zones, as defined by regulation 2(1) of the Protection of Water against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (England and Wales) Regulations 1996.
4. The grant aid is available (at the rate of 40%) towards expenditure (up to a maximum of £85,000) incurred by the agricultural business between the date of coming into force of the substantive part of the Scheme (30th November 2000) and 17th April 2003 in relation to facilities for the handling, storage and disposal of certain farm wastes and the separation of clean and dirty water (paragraph 3).
5. A number of restrictions are imposed on the making of grants under the Scheme (paragraph 4).
6. The Scheme indicates how grants are to be claimed (paragraph 5) and enables grant monies to be withheld in certain circumstances (paragraph 6).
7. The Farm Waste Grant (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) (England) Scheme 2000 (which is superseded by this instrument) is revoked and until 30th November 2000 the Farm Waste Grant (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) (England and Wales) Scheme 1996 is treated as continuing in force (paragraph 7).
8. No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in respect of this Scheme.